GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Monday signed into law House Bill 22-12, which will authorize the secretary of the Department of Commerce to impose fees on vehicles operated by tour companies.
Co-sponsored by the late-House Minority Leader Ivan Blanco, Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, Reps. Roy Ada, Joel Camacho, Angel Demapan, Joseph Flores, Joseph Leepan Guerrero and John Paul Sablan, H.B. 22-12 is now Public Law 22-10.
The measure amends P.L. 19-28, which requires tour companies to register their vehicles with the Department of Commerce.
Enacted on Dec. 18, 2015, P.L. 19-28 aims to ensure that vehicles operated by tour companies are all accounted for in the CNMI, most especially those that provide services for profit.
However, according to the new law, P.L. 19-28 did not provide clarity on how Commerce will establish registration fees for tour vehicles.
P.L. 22-10 empowers the Commerce secretary to promulgate rules to impose reasonable registration and permitting fees on vehicles operated by tour companies.
The new law also allows the Commerce secretary to create a Commerce Revolving Fund Account, separate from the general fund.
The fees collected and deposited to the revolving fund, the measure states, “shall be used for the purpose of the administration of tour operator registration and permitting program, enforcement, training and outreach programs.”
The fees “shall be administered for personnel compensation such as overtime and night differential during special inspection assignments issued by the Commerce secretary.”
